Man on pre-trial release arrested for keeping woman from leaving hotel room while officers tried to open the door

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ashley Galen Powers, 50, was arrested early this morning after allegedly keeping a woman from leaving a hotel room while officers tried to open the door from the outside.

At about 11:30 p.m. on October 8, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a call from the victim, who reported a domestic disturbance. When they arrived, the door was locked from the inside, and they reportedly spoke with Powers and the victim through the door.

The victim reportedly told officers that she wanted to come out of the hotel room, but Powers said she’d better not open the door. As officers tried to open the door, Powers allegedly kept slamming the door closed and locking it again. Officers reportedly heard a “smacking noise” inside the room that caused alarm, but they gave Powers more chances to open the door before forcing entry; Powers reportedly told them the victim already said she was fine and they needed a warrant to enter.

Officers entered the room, and post Miranda, Powers reportedly declined to answer any questions without a lawyer.

Powers has been charged with false imprisonment and resisting an officer without violence. He has no criminal convictions, but he was arrested in August for domestic battery on a different victim and released on $5,000 bail; he was also arrested for domestic battery in June, but those charges have been dropped. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $20,000 on the new charges.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.